Parks
BURTON CHACE PARK: 13650 Mindanao Way, Marina del Rey
(310-305-9595).
Located at the tip of the Mindanao jetty in the
Chace Harbor at Marina del Rey, this park is a good place to watch
boats, see planes from nearby LAX, fly a kite or just play. Climb on
the watchtower for a better view. Free public concerts take place
as well as an annual holiday boat parade. Call above number for
schedule of events.
CIRCLE X RANCH MOUNTAIN RECREATION AREA:
12896 E. Yerba Buena Rd., Malibu.
(310-457-6408)
The Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy has preserved this park. It has 22 miles of scenic
hiking trails, an archery range, volleyball courts, a swimming pool
and 600 camping sites.
MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK:
1925 Las Virgines Road and Mulholland Hwy., Malibu.
(818-880-0350)
This Santa Monica
Mountains Park is full of wildlife with 15 miles of trails and a 2-acre
lake set in 4,000 acres of woodland. The park features nature walks
guided by a park ranger who will point out native animals and
vegetation. Because the nature walks are leisurely paced, children
and the elderly can join in. Bring a picnic lunch to enjoy at the
stops along the way. Tent camping is available — call 800-444-7275
for reservations.
PALISADES PARK: 1400 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica.
(310-393-7593)
The line of steep cliffs along the edge of the ocean is called the Palisades. The park maintains clifftop gardens with lofty palms and
fantastic ocean views with steps leading down to the ocean.
PARAMOUNT RANCH: 21/2 miles south of the Ventura Freeway,
Agoura
(818-597-9192).
Paramount Ranch is part of the Santa
Monica Mountains Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park
System. The ranch is open daily for walking, equestrian uses and
picnicking. Evening programs, nature walks and guided tours
are presented regularly. Paramount Ranch is also the home of
Paramount Pictures.
This park features five miles of ocean shoreline, with rocky
bluffs, sandy beaches, sand dunes, rugged hills and uplands, two
major river canyons and wide grassy valleys dotted with trees.
There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails. The beach also
features swimming, body surfing and surf fishing.
WILL ROGERS STATE HISTORIC PARK:
1501 Will Rogers Road, Pacific Palisades.
(310-454-8212)
In the early 1930s, Will Rogers
was the most popular and highest paid actor in Hollywood. In the
1920s, he bought land in Santa Monica, where he developed a
ranch. Eventually, the Rogers’ owned 186 acres overlooking the
Pacific Ocean, in what is now known as Pacific Palisades. At
his untimely death in a plane crash in 1935, Will Rogers’ ranch
consisted of a 31-room ranch house, a stable, corrals, riding ring,
roping arena, polo field, golf course, and hiking trails. The ranch
house is now open for tours.
Hillside trails for hiking and horseback riding, picnic facilities and
a polo field with scheduled matches on the weekends are among
the many facilities available to visitors. Parking is $7.50.
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